Sen. Scott Wiener is nothing if not consistent in finding the wrong way. The San Francisco Democrat just introduced Senate Bill 50, spawn of his failed SB 827 “War on Suburbia” bill.

There’s little dispute even from Wiener that SB 827 and now SB 50 are designed to end local control of planning. His simplistic claim is that if building high-density apartments near transit is enabled, traffic will dissolve, housing costs will decrease and all will live happily ever after.

Transit near housing makes sense only if accompanied by New York City-like comprehensive transit. That ideal exists nowhere in the Bay Area except within the city and county of San Francisco. No plausible idea on how to pay for such an expanded transit network exists. Without New York- or London-style transit, more high-density housing will inevitably deteriorate the quality of life for all Bay Area residents — rich, poor and in between.

The right way to do affordable housing is exemplified by SB 5, introduced by state Sens. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, and Jim Beall, D-San Jose.

Instead of fighting local control, McGuire says, “The aim of the legislation is to be responsive to the needs of cities and counties, while creating desperately needed housing opportunities for hard-working Californians.” SB 5 preserves local control while facilitating reasonably priced housing. Beale and McGuire’s SB 5 strategy is to replace “the $1 billion per year lost when California eliminated redevelopment funds for affordable homes. This proposal includes the assurance that the money will be used to construct affordable homes.”

Those understandably fearful any new housing leads to more traffic congestion and overcrowded schools need to recognize the housing debate isn’t going away. There’s too much money involved and the public, especially young families, have a legitimate gripe about the cost of living everywhere in the Bay Area.

It would help if big business interests fretting about non-union blue collar workers’ inability to afford North Bay homes started paying their non-executive employees a fair salary. A uniform North Bay $15 minimum wage indexed for inflation would assist the ability of retail, food industry and service employees to live near where they work.

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Novato’s City Council faced a tough decision when it passed over Mayor Pro Tem Pam Drew for the mayor’s spot. A tradition, previously broken by other Marin councils, holds that council members who serve as mayor pro tem (vice mayor in most towns) are then awarded a one-year term as mayor, the city’s highest honor.

Drew has been the recipient of criticism that’s she’s been rude and callous to three other council members, occasionally the public and to staff. While some of it is overblown, viewing of televised council meetings confirms some of her, shall we say, less than diplomatic moments.

Denying Drew the gavel was a mistake. Novato residents would have learned about Drew’s true temperament if she had been elected by her colleagues as mayor. It would quickly be obvious whether she has the people skills essential to elective office. If she shined as mayor, her reputation would be established and re-election next year assured. A rude and unprofessional performance in the mayor’s chair would appropriately be penalized with electoral defeat.

Now, instead of having an opportunity to either prove herself or confirm her detractors’ criticisms, she’ll be seen by her supporters as having been penalized for being outspoken.